HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Radiology Department of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has been granted a three-year accreditation in computerized tomography from the American College of Radiology as the result of an exhaustive onsite review.

The ACR is a 95-year-old professional medical society with a lengthy track record of serving patients. Accreditation by the ACR is recognized as the gold standard in medical imaging.

A primary responsibility of the Radiology Department is CT scanning — sometimes called CAT scans, a noninvasive medical test that assists physicians in diagnosing and tailoring treatments for a long list of medical conditions. It is an essential service for the successful operation of all hospitals.

Wes Hoyt, chief operating officer for Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System says the accreditation follows a two-year effort to upgrade equipment in the Radiology Department that included a new CT scanner, MRI, ultrasound machine and an upgrade in digital portable X-ray machines.